Good apps for the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1

After using the Note 10.1 for a few weeks, I've settled on some apps that work really well with the tablet. Some of the apps included in this collection are preinstalled by Samsung, including Polaris Office, a solid office suite for working with Microsoft Office files.

The Note 10.1 has the useful S Pen for writing on the screen; the included Samsung S Note app works well as a digital notepad that includes different paper styles to suit the user.

The S Pen on the Note 10.1 has a useful hover mode, where the pen tip is held just above the screen. It works much like a mouse on a PC, in that the visible cursor on the screen can be moved around with the pen and trigger certain actions. Think of moving the cursor on a PC around a web page and having boxes drop down when the cursor moves over them. The S Pen works just like this.

Most of the apps included here can be run on any tablet and are readily available Android apps. The ones that come with the tablet will be noted, so owners of other devices will be aware.

Published: April 26, 2013 -- 10:55 GMT (03:55 PDT)

Photo by: Screenshot by James Kendrick/ZDNet

Caption by: James Kendrick

Samsung Calendar

This app comes pre-loaded on the Note 10.1, and it's a simple, but good calendar app. All standard calendar views expected in such an app are present, including Year, Month, Week, and Day views.

The app makes good use of the big screen to present useful information in an easy format.

Published: April 26, 2013 -- 10:55 GMT (03:55 PDT)

Photo by: Screenshot by James Kendrick/ZDNet

Caption by: James Kendrick

Polaris Office

This office suite is included with the Note 10.1, but can be purchased in the Play Store for other devices. It handles most Microsoft Office documents (Word, Excel, Powerpoint).

Polaris makes good use of the big screen of the Galaxy Note 10.1, and is easy to use by touch.

Published: April 26, 2013 -- 10:55 GMT (03:55 PDT)

Photo by: Screenshot by James Kendrick/ZDNet

Caption by: James Kendrick

My Apps, first screen

I have a lot of apps on the Note 10.1 in addition to the ones shown in this collection. This screenshot of the first screen of apps is included to show which apps I have.

Published: April 26, 2013 -- 10:55 GMT (03:55 PDT)

Photo by: Screenshot by James Kendrick/ZDNet

Caption by: James Kendrick

My Apps, second screen

This is the second screen of apps on my Note 10.1.

Published: April 26, 2013 -- 10:55 GMT (03:55 PDT)

Photo by: Screenshot by James Kendrick/ZDNet

Caption by: James Kendrick

S Note (with S Pen)

The pen on the Galaxy Note 10.1 is very useful for taking handwritten notes. The Samsung S Note app is preinstalled, and a good way to take notes and access them later. S Note opens automatically when the pen is removed from the storage silo on the tablet.

Published: April 26, 2013 -- 10:55 GMT (03:55 PDT)

Photo by: Screenshot by James Kendrick/ZDNet

Caption by: James Kendrick

Google Now

This free app includes a widget that shows current information from the Google Now service on the home screen. Google Now learns more about what you want to see the longer you use it. It works particularly well on the Note 10.1 and is very touch friendly.

Published: April 26, 2013 -- 10:55 GMT (03:55 PDT)

Photo by: Screenshot by James Kendrick/ZDNet

Caption by: James Kendrick

Plume (Twitter app)

I use Twitter a lot, and the multiple column display of Plume is perfect for the Galaxy Note 10.1. I can have three timelines displaying at all times, and follow it all with ease.

While I prefer Plume on the Note 10.1, I use Tweetings on my Note 2 phone, as it is presents single column display which better fits the small phone display. Tweetings works in the multiview mode on the Note 10.1, so I often use it for that. One of the coming slides shows it in this mode.

Published: April 26, 2013 -- 10:55 GMT (03:55 PDT)

Photo by: Screenshot by James Kendrick/ZDNet

Caption by: James Kendrick

Evernote

I use Evernote every day and is is a valuable work tool for me. The Android version is very nice, and it displays and works very well on the Note 10.1.

I do a lot of writing in Evernote, and use the ZAGGkeys Flex keyboard with the Galaxy Note 10.1 for heavy writing.

Pocket Informant

This PIM app is the best on any platform, and there are versions for most of them. The many displays are wonderful on the Note 10.1

The week view is shown in this slide.

Published: April 26, 2013 -- 10:55 GMT (03:55 PDT)

Photo by: Screenshot by James Kendrick/ZDNet

Caption by: James Kendrick

Chrome browser

I use Chrome on every device I use, and it works especially well on the Note 10.1. Web pages display well in either landscape mode (shown) and portrait mode. Touch operation of the browser is smooth as butter, and makes web surfing a breeze.

Chrome also works with the S Pen in hover mode, as dropdown boxes work as they do on the desktop with the pen hovering over them.

Published: April 26, 2013 -- 10:55 GMT (03:55 PDT)

Photo by: Screenshot by James Kendrick/ZDNet

Caption by: James Kendrick

Google+

The Android app for working with Google+ is simply wonderful, and especially so on the large display of the Note 10.1. The timeline is presented in a magazine layout that makes following updates a pleasant experience.

Published: April 26, 2013 -- 10:55 GMT (03:55 PDT)

Photo by: Screenshot by James Kendrick/ZDNet

Caption by: James Kendrick

Galaxy Note 10.1 Multiview

Samsung has included the innovative multiview, which I like on the Note 2 phone, and it works spectacularly on the Note 10.1. It allows having two apps on screen at once, as shown in this image.

This slide shows the Tweetings app on the left and the Samsung web browser (Chrome won't work on this Verizon Note 10.1) on the right. It works so well because when links in tweets are tapped in the left pane, the web page operns in the browser on the right.

Published: April 26, 2013 -- 10:55 GMT (03:55 PDT)

Photo by: Screenshot by James Kendrick/ZDNet

Caption by: James Kendrick

Cascaded windows mode

In addition to the multiview shown in the previous slide, Samsung has included a cascaded windows view. This lets multiple apps run in windows that can be manipulated much like a desktop OS.

This slide shows many apps running at once, and is very cluttered. I never use it in this way, it's only shown to demonstrate what is possible in cascaded windows mode.

Where it's useful is with two or three apps running in small windows on the screen at once. A simple tap will send the desired app into full screen mode. Each small window is resizable by touch, so any layout can be created as desired.

Published: April 26, 2013 -- 10:55 GMT (03:55 PDT)

Photo by: Screenshot by James Kendrick/ZDNet

Caption by: James Kendrick

Gmail

Google's email app on the Note 10.1 is as good as an email app on a PC. It uses the screen wonderfully, and is an app I use heavily.

Published: April 26, 2013 -- 10:55 GMT (03:55 PDT)

Photo by: Screenshot by James Kendrick/ZDNet

Caption by: James Kendrick

gReader Pro

Google Reader is going away, but until then, I am using it as heavily as ever. The gReader Pro app is a good way to work with the many RSS news feeds I follow, and the multiple column display is tailor-made for the Galaxy Note 10.1

This app also works well in multiview on the Note 10.1, and I often use it on the right pane with another app in a narrow pane on the left.

Good Android apps for the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1

I have been using the Galaxy Note 10.1 for a few weeks and find the big screen is great for most apps. This is a collection of some really good ones including some apps preinstalled on the Galaxy.

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Google Now

This free app includes a widget that shows current information from the Google Now service on the home screen. Google Now learns more about what you want to see the longer you use it. It works particularly well on the Note 10.1 and is very touch friendly.